The Project is funded by the FAO/Turkey Partnership Programme (FTPP) established over an initial period of five years (2007-2011) for  the benefit of the countries assisted by the FAO Subregional Office in Central Asia (FAO/SEC).

The initial project proposal was prepared and presented to FAO for consideration by TUGEM, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of Turkey and approved by the FTPP Steering Committee for technical implementation by FAO. This Project Document has been prepared in collaboration with TUGEM in the framework of the aforementioned proposal for signature of the relevant Arrangement by MARA and FAO.

In all central Asia countries the availability of, access to, and use of quality seeds of improved and adapted crop varieties play an important role in increasing agricultural production and productivity in order to ensure food security and improve farmer’s livelihoods. This is particularly critical at a time where world food prices continue to be high and concerns for national food security is one of the major agenda of governments.

At the same time, ECO member countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan have a great potential for seed production and trade, which  has not yet been efficiently used. So far, different studies and activities in the seed sector have taken place at national and international levels in light of the specific conditions of each country. These studies and activities however, still need to be evaluated and integrated into a regional framework so as clarify and facilitate the role of each shareholder in the seed sector.

Outcomes of the high-level meetings amongst ECO member countries including representatives of the private seed sector and the experience gained from national and regional projects has demonstrated that regional collaboration among countries of the region is strongly needed to develop the overall seed sector through the harmonization of the national and international rules and regulations for long-term cooperation and trade.

The activities under the present project “Seed Sector Development in ECO member countries” will contribute to the development of a mechanism, a protocol and a policy framework essential to addressing some of the weaknesses negating the productive use of both genetic resources and technical capacities available in the region. This project will facilitate the assessment of, and enhance the current situation of the seed sector in Central Asia leading to the preparation of a seed master plan that will contribute to the overall goal of food security, economic growth, environmental sustainability and poverty alleviation in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

The project will also develop foundations for a sustainable, environmentally friendly seed production, supply and trade system, which will represent a new base for regional cooperation and trade in the concerned  nine (9) countries and Turkey

The expected impact of the project is to contribute to the alleviation of food insecurity in the concerned countries through the assessment of the current situation of the seed sector and the preparation of seed master plans at national and subregional level.

A master plan will be prepared as a road map in order to move forward and will clearly indicate the problems, gaps and possible solutions and activities to be carried out on the short, medium and long-term. The master plan will include elements for a seed policy and a plan to support further elaboration of governments’ vision and support for:
•    variety testing and registration;
•    seed certification;
•    plant variety protection;
•    plant quarantine;
•    present positions and promotion of private seed initiatives.

The master plan will be the basic source for further activities and projects in the subregion and each concerned country. It will help governments and donors to allocate their resources according to a common, coherent plan.
The project will help to develop sustainable, environmentally friendly seed production, supply and trade systems, which will create a new base for regional cooperation and trade in the six concerned countries

The main expected Outcome of the project is:

Outcome: A National Seed Policy and a master plan for each target country and one at subregional level, highlighting the current situation of the seed sector established so as to improve the present oversight and coordinating mechanism for seed production and facilitate equal access for farmers to improved good quality seeds.

The activities foreseen under the project will build on the achievements and experience gained under the FAO/ECO- Seed Project.

The detailed  expected outputs of the aforementioned project outcome are detailed below :
Output 1.1 A draft seed policy and a plan document produced at national level to analyse and assess the current status of the seed sector in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and to propose institutional and coordination required to facilitate effectiveness of the seed sector to meet both the needs of internal and external trade.

Output 1.2 Seed budget and production plan established for each country.

Output 1.3 Clear delineation of responsibilities for the activities of the present seed project developed to ensure equal participation of all stakeholders from both public and private sector; and appropriate legislation drafted to facilitate their respective functions.

Output 1.4 A master plan for each country in particular and a subregional master plan for the development of the seed sector drafted and a database for monitoring its implementation and seed trade among countries established